Compare And Contrast The Problems Society Encounters With Essay Example

eating disorders, including anorexia, characterized by significant weight loss due to excessive dieting. This disorder primarily affects women but is increasingly prevalent among men who have a strong desire to be thin and fear becoming obese (NHS direct, Gross 2005).

Anorexics perceive themselves as thin regardless of their actual size or weight; they do not acknowledge their weight and perceive themselves as overweight regardless of external perspectives. Even when dangerously close to death, they can still identify aspects of their body that they believe are fat. They feel dominant and in control when they manage to lose weight (NHS direct). Their obsession with calories and weight loss serves as a means to suppress other emotions and sensations. Anorexia sufferers engage in extensive exercise and severe starvation as additional methods for losing weight (NHS direct). Bulimia, another psychological eating disorder, is characterized by episodes of excessive eating followed by inappropriate means of weight management (Jane Ogden, 2003). These inappropriate methods include vomiting, fasting, using enemas, excessive consumption of laxatives and diuretics, or engaging in compulsive exercise.

Excessive shape and weight concerns are also traits of bulimia. Bingeing is when a person eats significantly more food than the average individual in a similar situation. Binge eating is not prompted by extreme hunger but rather as a reaction to feelings of depression, stress, or low self-esteem (Jane Ogden, 2003). During a binge, the individual feels a lack of control. However, this loss of control typically leads to temporary calmness, which is often succeeded by self-loathing.

The obsession with overeating and vomiting is a recurring cycle that was recognized as its own eating disorder in the 1980s (Jane Ogden, 2003). To better

understand eating disorders, scientists have studied the biochemical composition of the neuroendocrine system. This system includes the central nervous system and hormonal system, which regulate various functions such as sexual function, physical growth and development, appetite and digestion, sleep, heart and kidney function, emotions, thinking, and memory. People with eating disorders often experience disruptions in these regulatory mechanisms (Gross, 2005). Neurotransmitters in the brain's central nervous system play a crucial role in controlling hormone production. Research has shown that individuals with depression have abnormal neurotransmitter functioning associated with serotonin and norepinephrine.

Recent research funded by NIMH has found that both acutely ill anorexia and bulimia patients, as well as long-term recovered anorexia patients, experience a decrease in neurotransmitters. Scientists also speculate a potential link between eating disorders and depression due to their comorbidity. Recent studies indicate that fluoxetine, an antidepressant medication targeting serotonin function, might have positive effects on certain anorexia patients (Gross, 2005). The role of families in the development of eating disorders is a subject of ongoing debate; some individuals with eating disorders express feeling suffocated by their overprotective families (Jane Ogden, 2003).

Jane Ogden (2003) states that individuals may unknowingly develop an eating disorder if they feel abandoned, misunderstood, and alone due to their parents excessively prioritizing physical appearance. Similarly, critical remarks about their bodies from parents, even in a joking manner, can have the same effect. While biological evidence indicates that individuals with a mother or sister who have had an eating disorder are more likely to develop one themselves, experts believe that other social and cultural factors play a larger role (Bruch, 1973). The pressure from friends or partners and excessive emphasis

on physical appearance by parents can contribute to the development of eating disorders (Bruch, 1973). Those vulnerable to eating disorders often struggle with relationships and experience feelings of loneliness. Some individuals may socially withdraw and only establish superficial or conflicting connections with others.

Others may appear to have thrilling lives filled with friends and social activities; however, they later admit that they never truly felt like they belonged and that no one truly understood them. They also lacked genuine friends or confidants with whom they could share their thoughts, feelings, doubts, insecurities, fears, hopes, and ambitions - the foundation of true intimacy (Bruch, 1973). Many of them yearn for healthy connections with others but are afraid of criticism and rejection if their perceived flaws and shortcomings become known (Jane Ogden, 2003).

On the contrary, some argue that Media and advertising companies have a role in causing eating disorders. Constantly informing their readers about the latest diets and featuring pictures of extraordinarily thin celebrities who are now size 0, the media ridicules any celebrity who shows even an ounce of fat, thereby amplifying the idea that being skinny is attractive. The pressure for skinniness is further intensified by supermodels in popular magazines who are becoming increasingly thinner. There have been reports of modeling agencies actively seeking out anorexic models (internet source).

According to an internet source, female models typically weigh up to 25% less than the average woman and maintain a weight 15 to 20 percent below what is considered healthy for their age and height. Some models undergo plastic surgery or "taping-up" techniques to enhance their appearance in photos, which are further edited before publication. These body types

and images are unattainable for most individuals. Furthermore, clothing stores not only use excessively thin models in their advertisements but also predominantly offer designs for slim girls, making it difficult for larger girls to find clothes that fit them. This societal emphasis on looks begins at an early age when even 3-year-olds are praised for cuteness and exposed to dolls like Barbie and Cindy with supermodel-like figures.

The British Medical Association (BMA) has also released a report that links the media's fixation on extremely thin fashion models to the increase in eating disorders among young girls. This report signifies the BMA's first acknowledgement of such a correlation.

Approximately 60,000 individuals in Britain suffer from eating disorders, with females comprising the majority. A report from the British medical community highlights the urgency of addressing societal pressures on young women to maintain a thin body. It specifically calls on publishers to assume greater responsibility and suggests featuring "more achievable body shapes" to prevent fatalities associated with harmful weight loss methods.

The British Medical Association (BMA) has emphasized the importance of schools addressing teasing of overweight students and promoting their participation in sports, as stated by Dr. Vivienne Nathanson, the BMA's head of science. She pointed out that many children and young women have body sizes and shapes that differ from the idealized figures depicted in the media, which can lead to weight gain.

In addition, anorexia or bulimia can result in various health problems, including malnutrition caused by either insufficient or excessive food consumption. The term "malnutrition" encompasses a deficiency in energy, protein, and micronutrients.

Dehydration can occur due to inadequate fluid intake and limitations on carbohydrates and fat. In individuals with

Eating Disorders, dehydration is often caused by restriction/starvation, vomiting, and laxative abuse (Gross, 2005). Insufficient essential nutrients, either alone or in combination, can lead to significant health dangers such as respiratory infections, kidney failure, blindness, heart attack, and potentially even death (Bruch, 1973). Signs of dehydration may appear as dizziness, weakness, or darkening of urine.

Eating disorders can lead to various health complications, such as kidney failure, heart failure, seizures, brain damage, and even death. One common physical symptom of these disorders is the presence of lanugo - a soft downy hair found on the face, back, and arms. This hair serves as a protective mechanism activated by the body during periods of starvation to maintain warmth and counter hormonal imbalances caused by the disorder.

According to Jane Ogden (2003), the National Health Service (NHS) estimates that treating eating disorders with a 12-week in-house program costs approximately ?2,000. In contrast, obesity rates in the UK are on the rise with one in four men and one in five women classified as obese. Additionally, NHS direct reports that 41% of men and 33% of women in the UK are considered overweight.

According to NHS direct, obesity rates in children are on the rise. Insurance companies have long been aware that individuals who are excessively heavy or extremely light tend to have a shorter lifespan and are therefore not profitable to insure. In addition, being overweight leads to significant costs for the UK, with the NHS spending approximately ?85 million per year on obesity-related issues. According to NHS direct, these conditions also result in 18 million sick days annually. The increase in obesity rates is most prevalent in industrialized societies

and is linked to factors such as a sedentary lifestyle, diets high in fat and sugars, and an abundance of food.

Childhood obesity has increased greatly in the UK and worldwide since the 1980s (Gordon, Richard, 2000). In the United States, there has been a twofold increase in the number of obese children since 1980 (Brown, 2001).

Gale (2000) defines obesity as the abnormal accumulation of body fat, typically exceeding 20% of an individual's ideal body weight. This condition is linked to a higher risk of illness, disability, and death. According to Bond et al. (2004), obesity plays a well-established role in causing diseases such as hypertension, diabetes, and coronary artery disease. The authors also emphasize that it is a significant risk factor for other conditions including gastro-esophageal reflux, arthritis of weight-bearing joints, sleep apnea, and certain types of cancer. Furthermore, the media not only influences anorexia and bulimia but also contributes to the development of obesity.

The impact of advertising on children's weight gain can be seen in three main ways: 1) through the creation of products specifically designed for kids; 2) by influencing their food preferences with advertisements; and 3) ultimately affecting their actual consumption of these preferred foods. It has been shown in studies that a majority of television advertisements aimed at children promote food products and services (Barcus, 1975). Among these ads, a significant portion promotes sugary snacks, sweetened cereals, and fast-food restaurants. Research also indicates that exposure to such advertisements leads to children requesting the advertised foods. Multiple studies have demonstrated that unhealthy food and sweets advertisements have both short-term and long-term effects on children's food preferences (Atkin and Gibson, 1978; Goldberg et

al., 1978).

The hypothalamus, which is a part of the brain, plays a role in controlling weight loss and management, motivation to eat, and the experience of eating satisfaction (Gross, 2005). If the hypothalamus doesn't function properly, food becomes more important but less satisfying. This dysfunction is associated with obesity. When diagnosed with an eating disorder, there are treatment options available. A healthcare provider can help address the damage caused by the disorder and may refer the patient to an eating disorders specialist (Jane Ogden, 2003). The specialist can provide counseling to allow patients to openly discuss their eating habits and develop awareness of their problem for better control (Jane Ogden, 2003). Cognitive behavioral therapy is another treatment option that teaches new ways of thinking about eating while addressing underlying emotional issues that may have contributed to the disorder.

According to Jane Ogden (2003), in severe cases, patients may require hospitalization for professional monitoring of their eating and calorie intake. Obesity can be treated through a combination of diet, exercise, and behavior therapy. Stomach stapling is an option for extreme cases to reduce stomach size and decrease food intake. Health physicians can prescribe drugs such as Orlistat to reduce fat absorption, Sibutramine to suppress appetite, and Rimonabant as the first-ever drug specifically prescribed for obesity. Rimonabant is typically used alongside exercise and diet (BBC). This essay emphasizes the fatal consequences of untreated eating disorders while highlighting associated risks. Major contributing factors include chemical imbalances, social and media influences, family dynamics, and possibly depression.

The disorders may present with different symptoms, but they seem to originate from a similar starting point.